Systematic Mutagenesis of Oncocin Reveals Enhanced Activity and Insights into the Mechanisms of Antimicrobial Activity.

Oncocin is a proline-rich antimicrobial peptide that inhibits protein synthesis by binding to the bacterial ribosome. In this work, the antimicrobial activity of oncocin was improved by systematic peptide mutagenesis and activity evaluation. We found that a pair of cationic substitutions (P4K and L7K/R) improves the activity by 2-4 fold (p<0.

Engineered E. coli Nissle 1917 for the reduction of vancomycin-resistant in the intestinal tract.

Vancomycin-resistant (VRE) poses a serious threat in hospitals where they densely colonize the intestinal tracts of patients. In vulnerable hosts, these pathogens may translocate to the bloodstream and become lethal. The ability to selectively reduce VRE in the intestinal tracts of patients could potentially prevent many of these translocation events and reduce the spread of the pathogen.

Characterization of Class IIa Bacteriocin Resistance in Enterococcus faecium.

Vancomycin-resistant enterococci, particularly resistant , pose an escalating threat in nosocomial environments because of their innate resistance to many antibiotics, including vancomycin, a treatment of last resort. Many class IIa bacteriocins strongly target these enterococci and may offer a potential alternative for the management of this pathogen. However, 's resistance to these peptides remains relatively uncharacterized.

Antimicrobial Probiotics Reduce Salmonella enterica in Turkey Gastrointestinal Tracts.

Despite the arsenal of technologies employed to control foodborne nontyphoidal Salmonella (NTS), infections have not declined in decades. Poultry is the primary source of NTS outbreaks, as well as the fastest growing meat sector worldwide. With recent FDA rules for phasing-out antibiotics in animal production, pressure is mounting to develop new pathogen reduction strategies.

pMPES: A Modular Peptide Expression System for the Delivery of Antimicrobial Peptides to the Site of Gastrointestinal Infections Using Probiotics.

Antimicrobial peptides are a promising alternative to traditional antibiotics, but their utility is limited by high production costs and poor bioavailability profiles. Bacterial production and delivery of antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) directly at the site of infection may offer a path for effective therapeutic application. In this study, we have developed a vector that can be used for the production and secretion of seven antimicrobial peptides from both Escherichia coli MC1061 F' and probiotic E.

Chloride-Inducible Expression Vector for Delivery of Antimicrobial Peptides Targeting Antibiotic-Resistant Enterococcus faecium.

Antibiotic-resistant enterococcal infections are a major concern in hospitals where patients with compromised immunity are readily infected. Enterococcus faecium bacteria are of particular interest as these pathogens account for over 80% of vancomycin-resistant enterococcal infections. Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) produced at the site of infection by engineered bacteria may offer a potential alternative to traditional antibiotics for the treatment of resistant bacteria such as E.